The Congressional Budget Office released an analysis on May 12 showing that President Trump’s proposed next-generation missile defense shield, known as the “Golden Dome,” could cost taxpayers more than $1.2 trillion. The analysis was conducted at the request of Senator Jeff Merkley, Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee.
The projected cost is significantly higher than the $175 billion previously stated by President Trump for the program. The findings raise questions about federal spending priorities and national security policy.
Senator Jeff Merkley said, “The President’s so-called ‘Golden Dome’ is nothing more than a massive giveaway to defense contractors paid for entirely by working Americans. It will do little to advance American national security, while wasting at least $1.2 TRILLION of taxpayer dollars. Just like the president’s symbolic renaming of the Department of Defense or deploying National Guard troops to our cities, this move to fund the ‘Golden Dome’ will be far more effective at squandering money than protecting American lives.”
Merkley also said, “The American people want leaders in Washington who focus on lowering prices and creating opportunities for families to get ahead, not waging more costly conflicts and padding the pockets of their defense contractor friends. I will continue to work with my colleagues in the Senate to prevent another dime from flowing to this racket.”
Republican lawmakers provided initial funding for the project through last year’s One Big, Beautiful Bill Act before knowing its full cost, allocating $25 billion—about two percent of what CBO estimates is needed. The Pentagon has requested an additional $17 billion this year through another reconciliation bill.
In June 2025, Merkley asked CBO for a detailed estimate that included costs related to interceptors and command systems across all military domains as well as potential strategic consequences such as adversary responses or arms race escalation. In July 2025, he urged Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth not to proceed with construction due to concerns about wasteful spending and increased risk of nuclear proliferation.
The future direction of funding for missile defense remains uncertain as Congress considers further budget requests and weighs broader implications for U.S. security policy.
